Chaeles h



(No Model.)

C. H. HARD.

FOLDING WIRE MATTRESS.

Patented'May 26, 1885.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HARD, OF ONEIDA, NEW YORK.

FOLDING WIRE MATTRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,728, dated May 26, 1885.

Application filed May 21, 1884.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HARD, of Oneida, in the county of Madison and State 0f New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Bottoms of Wire and other Fabrics; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which* Figure l is a top View of my improved mattress applied to a frame. Fig. 2 is a similar View ofthe same, showing one of the wire strips down previous to applying the tension device for drawing or stretching it up to the frame to be fastened. Fig. 3 is a view of one end of one of the strips, showing my mode of fastening the netting to the end pieces.

This invention relates to wire mattresses; and it consists in such peculiarities ofconstruction as will enable the mattress to be easily folded in a small compass for transportation or storage and set up, all of which will be fully understood when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

A represents a wooden frame, which may be constructed of any suitable size.

B B B B represent sheets or strips of wire cloth or fabric, the edges of which I preferably re-enforee.

O O C C represent metal plates, which are suitably secured at each end ofthe wire sheets, the said plates being perforated at their outer edges, as shown in the drawings, so they may be tacked or secured to the frame.

a a represent detachable metallic links, which connect the sides of the sheets of wire fabric at suitable intervals. It is obvious that, instead of employing these links, I may adopt any other convenient and appropriate method of uniting the strips, though I prefer the way just described. By forming my mattress in sheets or strips they may be turned down one upon the other and then rolled in a compact form for transportation.

When it is desired to set the bed or mattress up for use, I employ a tension devicefor instance, one like or similar to that represented in the drawings-for tightening the strips or sheets of wire fabric. I first tack,

screw, or otherwise secure the metallic plates (No model.)

at one end of the strips to one end of the frame, then by means of a tension device applied tothe metal pl'ate at the opposite end of each sheet or strip I draw them to the proper degree of tension and likewise secure them. I preferably adopt tacks or pins to secure the metal plates to the head and foot boards of the frame, but do not confine myself to this means of doing it, as there are various other ways quite as effective.

The strips B, being considerably shorter than the distance between the end rails of the bed-frame, are necessarily made quite narrow, so that a great degree of tension may be given them without exerting great force. An equal degree of tension could not be given to wide strips or to the wire bottom made in one piece. Moreover, different degrees of tension may be given to the strips by securing them farther in or out on the upper surfaces of the end rails by means of screws or pins passing through their outer row of holes; or, if desired, each strip may be given a different degree of tension, as each is provided with end plates in no way connected with those of t-he other strips. By increasing the number of wires along the side edges of the strips-that is, by re-en forcing thesaid edgesthe latter serve to stay the strips laterally, and will give the wires c stiffer connectingpoints. The connecting-wires a, unite the strips so that all of them will swing together laterally, and will form a single bed-bottom.

Having described my invention, I claimrIhe combination` with the end rails of a bed-frame, A, of the narrow strips B, of woven wire, re-enforced along their side edges by additional Wires, and provided with the end plates, C, adapted to be connected farther in or out ont-o the upper surface of the end rails, according to the amount of tension required, and the stiff detachable wires a, connecting at intervals the adjacent edges of the strips B, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

cnAELEs H. HARD.

Vitnesses:

F. O. MOCLEARY, A. E. DOWELL. 

